OSSIPEE — A husband and wife were killed Friday night after a pickup truck hit their motorcycle on N.C. 87 North.

According to Highway Patrol, around 7:45 p.m. Michael and Shannon Turner were struck by a truck being driven by 50-year-old Michael Ahlgren, of Ossipee Front Street in Elon. Ahlgren was charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

Sgt. Anna Saucier reported that Ahlgren was traveling behind the couple, and said he didn’t see the motorcycle until they put their blinker on to turn right onto Carroll Drive. By that time, it was too late.

“As soon as he saw it, he was trying to prepare to stop,” Saucier said. “He was going faster than they were.”

The couple was ejected from the bike upon being hit from behind, and both were pronounced dead on the scene. Ahlgren was unhurt, according to Altamahaw-Ossipee Fire Chief Michael Barnette.

Saucier said Ahlgren was going 55 miles per hour when he struck the motorcycle, and was unsure what speed they were driving at the time. Alcohol was not a factor.

Ahlgren’s bond was set at $2,500.

N.C. 87 was closed between Gerringer Mill and Old N.C. 87 for close to three hours while the N.C. Highway Patrol investigated the scene, Barnette said.

In addition to the fire department and Highway Patrol, Alamance County EMS, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office and the N.C. Department of Transportation responded to the scene.